Voice of the People

Wise Owl isn't being given a fair shake

I work for Wise Animal Hospital, owned by Dr. Joel Joseph. I like my job and the people I work with. We make higher-than-average wages and work for a compassionate man. Without hesitation, I can honestly say that I enjoy being part of the service we provide the community of Guam.

For some time now, we have been persecuted by the Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners for various unfounded charges. One of the more egregious charges is that we never got a change-of-occupancy permit for our building. When we first opened, we were never told of the need for such a permit. In April 2008, we received a normal occupancy permit through an inspection by a Department of Public Works building inspector. We have a copy of this document.

In June of 2011, we received notice that our occupancy permit was not acceptable. We argued how this can be since we had received an occupancy permit and had a business license. Our arguments were to no avail, so in December of 2011, we began the process of getting a change-of-occupancy permit. This included hiring an architect to approve of the renovations to the building, reapproval from the Department of Land Management, a new fire safety inspection by GFD and a site inspection by the Department of Agriculture.

We have met with all of these requirements, except for the site inspection from the Department of Agriculture. The Territorial Veterinarian, Dr. Thomas Poole, is responsible for performing these site inspections. Since December 2011, I have personally tried, on numerous occasions, to get a site inspection from Poole and have yet to receive a reply from him.

Finally, in frustration I sent a letter to the director of the Department of Agriculture, Mariqita Taitague, asking for her assistance in obtaining a site inspection. I received a letter from the director of the Department of Agriculture, stating that we had been ordered closed and that her department would not be involved in any inspection of Wise Owl.

This is particularly disturbing as we have been requesting an inspection since December 2011, long before the GBAHE ordered us closed. We are not closed, as Superior Court Judge Bordallo has placed a temporary stay on the board's ruling. This is not the sort of behavior one should expect from a government agency.

Another disturbing issue is that Dr. Velma Harper, a GBAHE board member, stated on PNC news that she was not aware of the requirement that she needed a change-of-occupancy permit when she opened her quarantine and moved her clinic. Harper voted to convict Joseph on the charge of not obtaining a change-of-occupancy permit. She had to be aware of the requirement.

KEN MASSEY

business manager, Wise Owl Animal Hospital

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Voice of the People

Wise Owl isn't being given a fair shakeI work for Wise Animal Hospital, owned by Dr. Joel Joseph. I like my job and the people I work with. We make higher-than-average wages and work for a